Container closure applying tool



Feb. 27, 1934. J. HOTHERSALL 1,948,521

CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING TOOL.

Filed Feb. 20,- 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Lani I dmnl Feb. 27, 1934. J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING TOOL Filed Feb. 20, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l VENTOR z.

ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1934. J. M. HOTHERSALL CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING TOOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 20, 1931 W EEEWrT INVENTOR 7% B g fiv ATTORN Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT DFFICE CONTAINER CLOSURE APPLYING TOOL Application February 20, 1931. Serial No. 517,242

14 Claims.

The present invention relates to a tool for applying sealing closures to containers and has particular reference to an improved form of tool for the application of closures having outer depending flanges which are bent under shouldered parts of containers.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved construction of closing tool for holding a sealing closure in position while bending its outer peripheral edge under a shouldered part.

A further important object of the invention is the provision of interconnected container closing devices controlled by a single manipulation of handle members for first bending the outer edge of a sealing closure inwardly and under a shouldered part of a container and then tightly clamping the sealing closure in its position, as its outer edge is finally bent upwardly into tight sealing engagement.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a sealing closure applying tool of improved construction which may be adjusted to vary the amount of crimping action of the tool whereby a. predetermined tightness is obtained in the sealing joint between the closure and its container part.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a closure applying tool embodying the present invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective detail of one of the hand operating lovers of the tool;

Fig. 3 is a composite, perspective view of one form of container and sealing closure adapted for assembly by the improved tool of the present invention, the container and closure parts being separated to show their construction prior to sealing;

Fig. 4 is a central, longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in Fig. 1, parts being broken away, this view also illustrating the tool applied to a container nozzle and closure members;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the assembled container nozzle and sealing closure members prior to operation thereon by the closure applying tool;

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the closure members fully applied to the nozzle;

closure applying tool taken substantially along the line 8--8 in Fig. 7.

For the purpose of more clearly illustrating the operation of the improved closing tool embodying the present invention, there is disclosed in the drawings a container 11 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) having a top end 12 on which is or may be positioned a nozzle 13. The cylindrical Wall of the nozzle 13 (see also Figs. 5 and 6) merges at its upper end into a fiat annular seat 14 extending into a downwardly depending flange 15 terminating in an inwardly curled shoulder 16.

For some purposes an air tight seal is desired and (as disclosed in the drawings) this may comprise a top disc 1'7 of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter across the seat 14 of the nozzle 13 and a suitable gasket 18, preferably of resilient material such as cork, rubber, etc. The disc 17 and gasket 18 may be used with a sealing ring 19 of the tear-off type having a downwardly extending flange 21 and a finger tab or tongue 22 formed in the top of the ring.

While such a type of container and closure are selected for the purposes of illustration, it will be understood that other forms of containers with the same or different shouldered parts may be assembled and sealed by the use of my improved tool.

The operation of the closing tool on the assembled container and closure effects a bending of the peripheral edge of the flange 21 of the ring 19 so that this edge is tightly crimped under the curled shoulder 16 of the nozzle 13 while the gasket 18 is tightly compressed between the top disc 17 and the seat 14 of the nozzle.

With the sealing closure positioned on the nozzle, the closing tool is placed thereon, the upper surface of the ring 19 being engaged by a centering head or chuck 31, (Figs. 4 and 7) formed with an annular depression 32 in which the ring 19 fits. The entire Weight of the closing tool rests upon the ring 19 forcing the closure members down on the nozzle. A column or post 33 is threadedly secured at 34 to the head 31 and etxends upwardly, merging into an enlarged section 35 which is cut across by a central slot 36. At its upper end the post terminates into a pair of spaced lugs 37 in which are formed vertical lateral slots 38.

A pair of arcuate crimping jaws 41 constitute the active crimping elements of the tool, each jaw being substantially one-half of a circle and having a crimping wall 42 at its base. Each jaw 41 is provided with an upwardly extending section or arm 43 (see also Fig. 8) which is located and has movement within the central slot 36 of the post 33. The upper ends of the sections 43 lie adjacent one another and each terminates in a lug 44 which encircles a pivot pin 45 which projects beyond the outer faces of the lugs on each side and extends into the lateral slots 38 of the post.

The thickness of each lug 44 of the crimping jaws 41 is substantially one-half the distance between the lugs 37 of the post, this distance also being equal to the width of the central slot 36. The two lugs 44 are located alongside each other on the pivot pin 45, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8. This pivot pin has tight frictional engagement, such as a drive fit, in one of the lugs 44 (lug on the left-hand jaw 41 in Figs. 4 and 7) and a loose pivotal engagement in the other lug. This permits pivoting action of the lugs and a swinging of the jaws in and out to eiiect the closing operation, and the construction is such that both jaws 41 and their pivot 45 may have any vertical movement relative to the post and head 31 which is required in the crimping of the ring 19.

This jaw movement is controlled manually by a pair of hand operated levers 51 having handle grips 52 formed onztheir outer ends. Each lever 51 is pivoted on a pin 53 (Figs. 1 and 4) which is carried in lugs 54 formed in side plates 55. There are two side plates 55 for each hand lever 51 and each side plate is set into a right-angled pocket 56 formed in one of the corners of the post 33. There are, therefore, four of the pockets 56, two on each side of the post 33.

The two side plates 55 on the front of the tool are held in position by a clamping link 57 positioned outside of the plates and on the front side of the post 33. This link is held by a clamping screw 58 (see also Fig. 8) threadedly engaging the front part of the post. The two side plates on the rear side of the tool are similarly held in place by a clamping link and screw.

A relatively thin piece of metal constituting a shim 59 is inserted between the end of each side plate 55 and its pocket wall and the thickness of the shims 59 determine the distance between the centers of the pivot pins 53. This distance between centers determines the amount of crimping action of the crimping jaws 41 applied against the closure member during its application to the container part as will be hereinafter fully described. To permit easy changing of shims 59, the clamping links 5'? are provided with extensions 61 having inclined faces 62 which correspond to and engage inclined faces 63 formed in the side plates 55.

If a thicker shim 59 is used between the side plates and the post, the inclined surfaces 63 of the opposed side plates are further apart, but this is compensated for by the position of the link 57 relative to the face of the post 33 under the action of the clamping screw 58. In this way considerable adjustment is possible between the centers of the pins 53, the amount of threaded engagement of the clamping screws within the post providing for variation while insuring a solid mounting for the side plates 55 at all times.

Manipulation of the handle levers 51 on their respective pivots 53 controls the pivotal swinging action of the crimping jaws 41 on their pivot 45. When the handle levers 51 are in their uppermost position, as illustrated in Fig.

'4, the jaws 41 are in th ir outer or extended position, this being the position of the tool as its centering head is applied to the closure and the container to effect the sealing operation.

Each lever 51 is provided with a projecting upper finger 71 and a lower finger 72 both finggers extending beyond the pivot pin 53 (see also Fig. 2). The section 43 of each crimping jaw 41 is slotted at 73 to provide clearance for the finger 71 which extends into the central slot 36 of the post 33. The finger '71 of each lever is formed with a cam wall 74 which engages (when in the position illustrated in Fig. 4) a pin 75 carried by each jaw 41 and extending across its slot 73. This engagement of the levers with their pins 75 hold the lower ends of the jaws 41 outwardly and downwardly.

An outer projection 76 formed on each of the fingers 72 engages an inclined wall 77 formed on the outside of the crimping jaw 41 associated therewith and as the handles 52 of the levers 51 are depressed, these levers are oscillated on their pivots 53, finger projections 76 riding against the inclined walls 77 of the jaws. This forces the jaws inwardly while pivoting them relative to each other on the pin 45. Durthis jaw movement, the cam walls 74 of the fingers 71 first ride along the pins 75 and then move upwardly and away from the pins. As the handle levers 51 reach their lowermost positions, the projections 76 ride beyond their engaged walls 77 and a locking wall 78 formed on each finger 72, adjacent its projection 76, comes into locking engagement with a corresponding wall 79 formed on each jaw 41 (Fig. 7).

This pivoting movement of the jaws 41 brings their crimping walls 42 into engagement with the peripheral edge of the flange 21 of the closure member and bends it inwardly as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. Limiting stops 81 are formed on top extensions 82 of the crimping jaws 41 and each stop is engaged by a corresponding wall 83 formed in each finger 71. After engagement with the stops further downward movement of the levers 51 is prevented.

During the action just described the crimping jaws 41, beside their pivotal movement relative to the pivot 45, and beside their inward movement against the lower edge of the flange 21 of the closure ring 19, have also undergone a slight upward movement at the end of the operating stroke. The tendency of the projections 76 as the handle levers are depressed is to raise the jaw members but this lifting action is delayed by a holding device illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7.

A plate 85 is secured by a screw 86 to the post 33, this plate being located in the upper end of the central slot 36. One of the crimping jaws 41 (left-hand jaw as viewed in Figs. 4 and 7) is provided with a projection 87 which extends inwardly toward the center of the slot 36 and this projection carries a pin 88 having a rounded head. In the open position of the jaws, this pin 83 engages the plate 85 and holds down on its jaw 41 so that the pivot pin 45 tightly held in the lug 44 of that jaw is held in the bottom of the lateral slots 38, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The other jaw 41 being mounted on the pin 45 also remains in lowered position at such a time.

Inward movement of the jaws 41 by lowering of the operating levers 51 is made with the two jaws in their lowered position as long as the pin 88 is in engagement with the plate 85. As the jaws approach the completion of their pivoting movement in the crimping operation of bending the flange 21 under the shoulder 16, the pin 88 rides beyond and slips off of the plate 85. The jaws 41 are thereupon moved upwardly by action of the rising projections 76 against their inclined walls 77 and the pivot pin 45 moves up, within the lateral slots 38 to the position illustrated in Fig. 7.

This lifting of the jaws imparts a final upward crimping action against the peripheral edge of the flange 21 of the closure member and is counteracted by the downward pressure of the head 31 on the top of the closure member. The gasket 18 is thus tightly compressed between the disc 17 and the wall 14 of the nozzle 13 and an extremely tight fit is in this way formed between the closure and the container. Inasmuch as the lower edge of the flange 21 is crowded into a smaller diameter, the excess of metal in the flange puckers and forms corrugations 90, (Fig. 6) which are forced upwardly behind the curled edge 16 of the nozzle. This increases the tightness of the seal between the closure and the container.

When the container is to be opened, the tongue 22 of the ring 19 is pulled backward and outward and the ring 19 is torn across and broken in the usual manner, after which it can be easily removed from the shoulder 16 of the nozzle.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws pivotally mounted on said post, and oppositely operating hand operated levers mounted adjacent and at each side of said post and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them inwardly and upwardly when said hand levers are depressed to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container.

2. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws having extended upper ends pivotally connected and pivotally mounted on said post, hand operated levers mounted adjacent said post and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them inwardly and upwardly when said hand levers are depressed to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container, and means carried by said levers for opening said jaws when said hand levers are lifted.

3. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws pivotally mounted on said post, said post and jaws having relative vertical movement, hand operated levers mounted adjacent said post and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them inwardly and upwardly when said hand levers are depressed to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container, and cam means carried by said levers and operating on said jaws for lowering the jaws and releasing them from the closure when said hand levers are lifted.

4. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post having a vertical central slot mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws partially located in said slot and pivotally mounted on said post, and hand operated levers mounted adjacent said post and having cam surfaces operating in said slot and working against said jaws and moving them inwardly and upwardly when said hand levers are depressed to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container.

5. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws pivotally mounted on said post, hand operated levers mounted adjacent said post and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them inwardly and upwardly when said hand levers are depressed to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container, and stops carried by said crimping jaws for limiting the downward movement of said hand levers.

6. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapated to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws pivotally connected with said post and with each other, hand operated levers mounted adjacent said post and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them inwardly when said hand levers are depressed to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container, and means carried by said levers for locking said jaws in crimping position.

7. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws pivotally mounted on said post, hand operated levers pivotally mounted adjacent said post, each lever having a pair of cam fingers cooperating during movement of said lever to move a said jaw associated therewith up and down and in and out to crimp the closure around and under the container shoulder when said levers are depressed and to separate the said jaws and release them from the closure when said levers are lifted.

8. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon the closure, a post mounted on said head and having a vertical, central slot and lateral end slots, arcuate crimping jaws partially located in said central slot and a pivot pin which has pivotal and sliding movement within said lateral slots, and means for moving said jaws inwardly and upwardly by first pivoting them relative to one another on said pivot pin and then by sliding said pivot pin in said lateral slots to crimp the closure around and under the shoulder of the container.

9. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon the closure, a post mounted on said. head and having lateral slots formed therein, arcuate crimping jaws, a pivot pin which has pivotal and sliding movement within said lateral slots, means for moving said jaws inwardly and upwardly by first pivoting the 1 relative to one another on said pivot pin and by later sliding said pivot pin in said lateral slots, and means for preventing the sliding movement until after the pivoting movement has been nearly completed whereby the jaws first crimp the closure around the shoulder of the container and then squeeze it tightly therebeneath.

10. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, arcuate crimping jaws mounted on said post, hand operated levers mounted adjacent said post and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them inwardly and upwardly when said hand levers are depressed, means for preventing the upward movement of said jaws until after their inward movement to first crimp the closure around the shoulder of the container and then squeeze it tightly thereoeneath.

11. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers having shouldred parts, the combinationcf a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, crimping jaws pivotally mounted on said post, side plates mounted adjacent said post, hand operated levers pivotally mounted on said side plates and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them against the closure to crimp it under the shoulder of the container, and adjustable clamping means for securing said side plates to said post in adjusted position to effect a predetermined crimping action in the closure applying operation.

12. In a tool for applying sealing closures to containers havings shouldered parts, the combination of a head adapted to rest upon said closure, a post mounted on said head, crimping jaws pivotally mounted on said post, side plates mounted adjacent said post, hand operated levers pivotally mounted on said side plates and having cam surfaces working against said jaws and moving them against the closure to crimp it under the shoulder of the container, and means for varying the distance between the pivots of said levers to regulate the amount of crimping action of said jaws.

13. In a closure applying device the combination of a central post having a chuck to hear on said closure, handle-levers for pressing the chuck against the closure, and jaws for engaging around and under the margin of the closure, the inner ends or" said handle-levers having fingers engaging above and below portions of said whereby the jaws are movable inward and also upward relative to the margin of the closure.

14. In a closure applying device the combination of central post having a chuck to bear on the closure, oppositely arranged handle-levers having inner arms for pressing the chuck against the closure, and oppositely arranged jaws for engaging around and under the margin of the closure, the levers and jaws being pivotally mounted relative to the chuck, the inner arms he handle-levers having direct engagement with portions of the jaws to move the jaws inward to embrace the closure from opposite sides, and also upwardly relative to the margin of the closure, and also to move the jaws outward.

JOHN M. HOTHERSALL. 

